
In addition to numerous references
to the Spirit by name, both in the Old
and in the New Testament, the Spirit is
frequently alluded to through the use
of a variety of symbols. In this lesson
some of the symbols used to designate
the Holy Spint will be briefly studied.*
Since it is only through an
acquaintance with the symbols,
emblems, or illustrations used for the
Spirit that His work and ministry in the
believer's life can be adequately
understood, this week's study is a
significant one. An understanding of
the symbols selected will help us to
grasp the position the Spirit desires to
occupy and the work He wishes to
accomplish in the life of every
believer. These symbols serve to
emphasize and illustrate teachings
that might otherwise be difficult or
impossible to understand.
Probably one of the most familiar
figures of the Spirit is the dove,
although it is employed only once in
the Bible. The reason it is such a
well-known symbol of the Spirit is
found in the fact that it was the
representation God used in bestowing
the Spirit on Jesus at the time of His
baptism. Another more common
symbol of the Spirit, water, is used
extensively both in the Old and New
Testaments, as is another common
symbol, fire.
Water is a symbol of outward
cleansing; fire, on the other hand,
does a more thorough job of
cleansing, and thus even more
appropriately is applied to the work of
the Holy Spirit in our lives. An
illustration of this is seen in the fact
that ore is occasionally washed before
it is poured into the smelting furnace.
But water cannot remove the
impurities within the pieces of ore.
The fire of the smelting furnace,
however, melts the ore, separating the
alloys and impurities from the pure
metal. In the same way the fire of the
Spirit can cleanse and purify us from
all impurities or sin.
F. E. Marsh aptly illustrates the
manifold ministry of the Spirit in the
following words: "In us as a Light to
illuminate; in us as a Friend to
counsel; in us as Water to refresh; in
us as a Comforter to cheer; in us as a
Teacher to teach; in us as a Guide to
direct; in us as Oil to make us shine; in
us as a Fire to purge; in us as a Dove to
sympathize; in us as the Seal to
secure; in us as the Witness to
confirm; in us as the Strength to keep;
in us as the Power to pray; in us as the
Source of fruitbearing; in us as Sap to
make us grow; in us as the
Remernbrancer to remind us that all
the precious promises of God are yea
and amen in Christ; and in us as the
Earnest of the coming glory."—
Emblems of the Holy Spirit
(Grand
Rapids, Mich.: Kregel Publications,
1971), p. 246. Used by permission.
We shall not cover all these symbols
in this lesson, but will study the most
significant.
DAILY HIGHLIGHTS
1.
Dove, Comforter, and Eye of God
(John 1:32)
2.
Water
(John 7:37-39)
3.
Oil
,
and Unction
(Matt. 25:1-4)
4.
Seal and Guarantee
(2 Cor. 1:72)
5.
Light and Fire
(John 1:9)
6.
Wind
(John 3:8)
*For an interesting elucidation on biblical sym-
bols of the Spirit the reader may consult F. E.
Marsh,
Emblems of the Holy Spirit
(Grand Rapids,
Mich.: Kregel Publications, 1971), and Leslie Har-
dinge,
Dove of Gold
(Nashville, Tenn.: Southern
Publishing Association, 1972).